The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-27
SUNSTROKE.
TIMELY HINTS ON 4 DANGER
Gus SUBJECT.
How Sunstroke May be Produced
Its Usual Symptoms and
Treatment Causes of
the Affection.

Sunstrokc, says doctor in tie New
| York Herald, is not confined to tropical
regions. New York and other Northern
cities suffer from itycarly.
At certain seasons the number Of cases,
in proportion to the population, far ex-
cecds that of the more tropical towns.
1t is worthy of remark that natives of
southern latitudcs state that they often
suffer much more from the effects of the
! transient heat of more northern places
than from much higher temperature at
home.
Sportsmen in India constantly expose
themselves in the hottest weather when
in pursuit of game. Those who use rea-
sonablc precautions, who protect the head
and spine by headdress adapted for the
purpose, wear loose clothing of suitable
material and abstain from stimulants,
rarely suffer from sunstl oke.
Sunstrokc does not depend upon
short exposure to the direct rays of the
sun; the exposure must have been con-
tinucd for day or two; nor does it nee
essarily arise from solar heat.
Prolonged confinement in the heated
atmosphere of a building may likewise
produce it, thus among workmen in su-
gar reinclic>, laundrics, engine rooms of
steamships or among troops in the poorly
ventilated tween decks of transport
ships in the tropics many cases have oc-
cured.
While long continued heat is the excit-
ing cause of this terrible affection, other
things are imro tant as accessories.
Working in lily ventilated apartments is
one of these. The wearing of warm and
tight clothing, by which the natural
process Of ,ooling the body by evapora-
ton and radiation from its surface are
h;ndcrcd, is another of these accessories.
Prolonged bodily cXertion, especially if
added TO the foregoing conditions, will
precipitate an attack.
About the third or fourth day from
the commencement of heated term, sun
strokes usually begin to appear, the suf-
fcrer in most cases having been exposed
to the heat for some days previous to the
attack. Persons of Incorporate habits
and debilitated systems arc most liable to
attack.
FIRST SYMPTOMS OF STROKE.
There are various grades or manifesto
tions of sun-stroke. Some simply COM
plain of intense weakness and pain in the
head. Others arc stupid and wandering,
while complete insensibility accompanies
t,,.c great majority of cases.
Il threatening attack may manifest it.
sell by hot and dry skin, giddiness,
congestion of the eyes, extreme debility,
nausea and frequent desire to mictu-
rate. After longer or shorter continu-
an"c of such symptoms. inscnsibility su-
pcrvenes, the heat and dryncss of the
skin increase, the breathing is quick and
noisy, the pupils contract, and the heart
acts tumultuously.
The disease may prove fatal in few
minutes. or the symptoms may last ffrm
one to forty-cight hours, and evcntuate
in recovery. When recovery takes place
certain scquclac appears in consider
abe proportion of cases. These are of a
nervous character, as persistent head
ache, muscular 81 asms, epileptic fits and
mcnta! weakness.
There is another variety of sunstrokc
in which the wei ght of the attack seems
to bc chiefly expended on the heart. In
these cases, though it is probable that the
sufferer himself is conscious of some pre-
monitory symptoms, there is seldom time
for their full development so rs to at-
tract the attention of bystandcrs before
the individual falls, ga>ps and in some
severe cases expires before there is time
to do much or anything for his recovery.
In these cases the heat OF the skin is not
so extreme, the countcnance is pale and
the breathing is signing or gasping; all
the symptoms point to exhaustion as the
overwhelming condition present.
TREATMENT.
A person overcome by the heat should
be at once removed to a shady and
breezy spot if possible or to cool room
by an open window. The clothes should
be stripped off and stream of cold water
poured over the body. The vessel con-
tanning the liquid should be held four or
five feet above the patient, in order that
he may receive the benefit of the shock.
The stream of water should ut first be
directed on the head, then m the chest
and abdomen, and again and again, and
should he kept up until consciousness re-
turns. Ice may likewise be applied to
the head and armpits. Injections of ice
water into the rectum may be of use. The
one controlling Indication is to reduce as
quickly as possible the temperature of
the blood.
In the moro rare cases of heart failure,
which have been described, this use of
cold water would be injurious. The skin
affords sign by which to Judge in these
cases; if it is cold, these douches are to
be avoided, and strong stimulants, like
ammonia and alcohol, are to lie used in
stead.
In all cases internal medication is use
full. Among the numerous drugs en-
ploycd bromide of potassium has been
found most efficient. From ten to thirty
grains every half hour, according to the
avity of the case, may be given until